What do they celebrate on Cinco de Mayo?

What do they celebrate on Cinco de Mayo?

Cinco de Mayo, (Spanish: “Fifth of May”), also called Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, holiday celebrated in parts of Mexico and the United States in honour of a military victory in 1862 over the French forces of Napoleon III.

Why do we celebrate 5 de Mayo in the United States?

Cinco de Mayo officially commemorates the anniversary of an early victory by Mexican forces over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. It is not the anniversary of the defeat and expulsion of the French forces by the Mexicans, which occurred in 1867.

Is Cinco de Mayo a big deal in Mexico?

On May 9, 1862, President Juárez declared that the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla would be a national holiday regarded as "Battle of Puebla Day" or "Battle of Cinco de Mayo". Today, the commemoration of the battle is not observed as a national holiday in Mexico (i.e. not a statutory holiday).

Is Cinco de Mayo Day of the Dead?

Nope. People in Puebla celebrate, as that's where the unlikely victory occurred, but the festivities aren't nationwide. Cinco de Mayo isn't a federal holiday so the day is just like any other day for most people in Mexico.